Oil hydraulic device for a dustbin lid

ABSTRACT

An oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can includes a pressure valve, a pushing valve, a hydraulic pipe, a reducing valve and a pedal. The pressure valve is connected to a container of the garbage can, and has a piston capable of moving forwards on the pedal&#39;s downward movement. The hydraulic pipe is connected to the pressure valve from a lower end, and the pushing valve from an upper end. The pushing valve is secured to an upper part of the container, and has a piston rod movable upwards to pivot a movable member on said garbage can to open said lid connected to said movable member. The reducing valve is connected to an intermediate portion of said pipe for absorbing a part of pressure of oil in said pipe on said pedal&#39;s downward movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an oil hydraulic device for opening a dustbin lid, and particularly to one which can open and close the lid slowly, preventing the lid from getting damaged or making noise in the opening or closing movement.

[0002] It is convenient for people to open a lid of a garbage can by means of a pedal. They don't have to bend over to open the lid with their hands. Therefore, such garbage cans with lids able to be opened with pedals are very popular.

[0003] Referring to FIG. 5, a conventional garbage can 3 with a lid able to be opened with a pedal includes an outer container 31, a pedal 32, a connecting rod 33, a pushing rod 34, a lid 35 and an inner container 36.

[0004] The inner container 36 is received in the outer container 31. The pedal 32 is pivoted to a lower part of the outer container 31, and connected to the connecting rod 33 and the pushing red 34; the connecting rod 33 is pivoted to the pushing rod 34. The lid 35 is pivoted to an upper part of the outer container 31. The upper end of the pushing rod 34 is connected to the lid 35. When the pedal 32 is depressed, the pushing rod 34 will force the lid 35 to open for permitting garbage to be thrown into the inner container 36.

[0005] When the pedal 32 is released, the lid 35 will close automatically due to its weight.

[0006] However, the garbage can still has disadvantages as follows:

[0007] 1. The depressing force applied on the pedal has to be relatively big to open the lid, i.e. the user has to use much effort to open the lid.

[0008] 2. Because the lid 35 is opened by the pushing rod 34 moving upwards, when opened, the lid is limited to above the opening of the container, making it difficult to clean the inner side of the garbage can.

[0009] 3. The lid would be moved to the open position too quickly when the user depresses the pedal too hard, liable to get damaged on the parts which are connected to the outer container and the pushing rod 34.

[0010] 4. The lid would close on the container too quickly due to its weight, and make noise when the pedal is released too fast.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Therefore, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an oil hydraulic device for opening a lid of a garbage can such that the lid can bee opened and closed slowly and effortlessly.

[0012] The oil hydraulic device for opening a garbage can lid of the present invention includes a pressure valve, a pushing valve, a hydraulic pipe, a reducing valve and a pedal.

[0013] The pressure valve is fitted to a container of the garbage can, and has a cylinder part holding a piston capable of moving forwards on the pedal's downward movement to force oil received in the hydraulic pipe which is connected to the pressure valve.

[0014] The hydraulic pipe is connected to the pushing valve from an upper end. The pushing valve is fitted to an upper part of the container, and has a cylinder part holding a piston. The cylinder part of the pushing valve is secured to the container by means of a fixing member with a pushing valve piston rod connected to a movable member pivoted to the fixing member.

[0015] The movable member is fixedly connected to the lid for permitting the lid to be pivoted on the fixing member to open on the pedal's downward movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] This invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a garbage can with the oil hydraulic device for a lid according to the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can in FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the garbage can in FIG. 1, with the lid closed.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the garbage can in FIG. 1, with the lid opened on the container.

[0021]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional garbage can with a lid able to be opened with a pedal in the Background.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a garbage can with oil hydraulic device for opening a lid according to the present invention includes an outer container 11, an inner container 19, a lid 12, a bottom 13, a pedal 14, and the oil hydraulic device, which consists of a force member 2, a movable member 17 and a fixing member 15.

[0023] The inner container 19 is disposed in the outer container 11. The bottom 13 is connected to a lower end of the outer container 11. The outer container has a fixing hole 111 and two pivotal slots 112 on a lower part of one side, and has a through hole 113, and several screw holes 114 on an upper part of the other side.

[0024] The pedal 14 has two connecting projections (not numbered) movably passed into the pivotal slot 112 of the outer container 11 for the pedal 14 to be pivoted on the outer container 11. The pedal 14 further has a pushing part 141 projecting from a bottom side.

[0025] The force member 2 includes a hydraulic pipe 21, a pressure valve 22, a pushing valve 23 and a reducing valve 24. The hydraulic pipe 21 contains oil or gas in it. The pressure valve 22 is connected to a lower end of the hydraulic pipe 21, and has a threaded end portion 221, a button 223, a piston 224, and an elastic member 225. The button 223 is movably disposed on a rear end of the pressure valve 22, and connected to the piston 224 fitting closely inside the cylinder part (not numbered) of the valve 22. The elastic member 225 is connected to the piston 224 to bias same rearwards. The valve 22 is connected to the outer container 11 with the threaded end portion 221 passed through the fixing hole 111, and the button 223 contact the pushing part 141 of the pedal 14; a nut 222 is connected to the threaded end portion 221 to secure the valve 22. Thus, the piston 224 can move forwards to push the oil in the pipe 21 when the pedal is depressed.

[0026] The reducing valve 24 is connected to a reducing pipe (not numbered) in open communication with the hydraulic pipe 21. The reducing valve 24 includes a piston 241, an elastic member 242, and a regulating screw 243. The elastic member 242 is connected to the piston 241, which fits closely in the front end portion of the cylinder part of the valve 24, to bias the piston forwards. The regulating screw 243 is connected to the elastic member 242 to adjust a position of same.

[0027] The fixing member 15 has locating gaps 151, a locating part 152 (FIG. 2), and a pair of pivotal holes 153 on two sides. The fixing member 15 is fixed to the outer container 11 by means of screws 115 screwed into the screw holes 114 of the container 11 and same. The movable member 17 has a pair of pivotal holes 171 on two sides, a connecting hole 173, and a locating hole 172 (FIG. 2). The movable member 17 is pivoted to the fixing member 15 by means of a pivotal rod 16 passed through the pivotal holes 153 and 171; an elastic member 18 is connected to the locating hole 172 of the movable member 17 from an upper end, and to the locating part 152 of the fixing member 15 from a lower end to bias the movable member 17 downwards.

[0028] The lid 12 is fixedly connected to the movable member 17 such that same can be opened by means of pivoting the movable member 17 on the pivotal rod 16.

[0029] The hydraulic pipe 21 is passed through the through hole 113 of the outer container 11, and connected to the pushing valve 23 from an upper end; referring specifically to FIG. 3, the pipe 21 is secured by a lower one of the locating gaps 151, and the pushing valve 23 is secured in the fixing member 15 with a piston rod 232 movably passed through an upper one of the locating gaps 151. The piston rod 232 has a bent upper portion passed through the connecting hole 173 of the movable member 17. The pushing valve 23 further has a piston 231 fitting closely in the cylinder part (not numbered), and connect the piston rod 232. Thus, the piston rod 232 can move upwards to push the movable member 17 in order to open the lid 12. Moreover, the elastic force of the elastic member 242 is smaller than the force of the lid 12 applied on the piston rod 232.

[0030] In using the oil hydraulic device for opening the lid 12, the pedal 14 is depressed, making the pushing part 141 of the pedal 14 push the button 223 forwards; thus, the piston 224, and in turn the oil in the pipe 21 are pushed forwards. The piston 231 and the piston rod 232 of the pushing valve 23 are pushed upwards to open the lid 12.

[0031] The diameter of the hydraulic valve cylinder part is preferably bigger than that of the cylinder part of the pushing valve 23 such that the lid 12 can be opened with less effort.

[0032] When the pedal 14 is depressed too quickly and too hard, part of the pressure will be absorbed by the reducing valve 24, the oil pushing the piston 241 of the reducing valve 24 rearwards against the elastic member 242. Thus, the lid 12 would not be opened too abruptly. The diameter of the cylinder part of the reducing valve 24 is smaller than that of the cylinder part of the pushing valve 23, and of course smaller than that of the cylinder part of the pressure valve 22.

[0033] When the pedal 14 is released, the lid 12 will close on the outer container 11 due to its weight and the elastic member 18 move the piston rod 232 downwards. So, the piston 224 of the pressure valve 22 is pushed rearwards by the oil in the pipe 21; the elastic member 225 also pushes the piston 224 rearwards. Thus, the pedal 14 is moved to the original position.

[0034] From the above description, the oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can of the present invention can be known to have desirable features as follows:

[0035] 1. In manufacturing, the diameters of the cylinder parts of the valves can be decided according to needs in order for the hydraulic device for the lid of a garbage can to function under an optimal condition.

[0036] 2. The lid is pushed up to open by means of the piston rod of the pushing valve, so the lid can be opened to a position not interfering with cleaning the inside of the garbage can.

[0037] 3. Having the reducing valve, the lid would not open too abruptly and get damaged when the pedal is depressed too hard.

[0038] 4. Having the elastic member 18 connecting the movable member to the fixing member, the lid can close on the outer container easily even when same is opened to a position over the outer container. And, the elastic member 18 also helps the lid to close on the container relatively tight, preventing insects from entering the garbage can. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can, comprising a force member having a pressure valve fixed to a lower part of an outer container part of said garbage can; said pressure valve having a cylinder part holding a piston capable of moving forwards on a pedal's downward movement to force oil contained in a hydraulic pipe connected to said pressure valve; said hydraulic pipe being connected to a pushing valve coupled to an upper part of said outer container; said pushing valve having a cylinder part containing a piston having a piston rod on a top side of said piston; said cylinder part of said pushing valve being secured to said outer container by means of a fixing member with said piston rod of said pushing valve connected to a movable member pivoted to said fixing member; said movable member being fixedly connected to said lid for permitting same to be pivoted on said fixing member to open on said pedal's downward movement to lift said piston rod connected to said movable member. said hydraulic pipe being connected to a reducing valve on an intermediate portion thereof for permitting a part of pressure of said oil to be absorbed on said pedal's downward movement; said reducing valve having a piston fitted closely in a cylinder part.
 2. The oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing member has a pair of gaps on an inner side; a lower one of said gaps securing a top end of said hydraulic pipe therein; said piston rod of said pushing valve being movably passed through an tipper one of said gaps.
 3. The oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can as claimed in claim 1, wherein an elastic member being connected to said movable member, and said fixing member from two ends for biasing said lid associated with said movable member downwards.
 4. The oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diameter of said cylinder part of said pressure valve is at least bigger than that of said cylinder part of said pushing valve, and a diameter of said cylinder part of said reducing valve is at least smaller than that of said pushing valve cylinder part.
 5. The oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can as claimed in claim 1, wherein said piston of said reducing valve is biased by a spring against said oil on said pedal's downward movement; a regulating screw being fitted to said reducing valve for adjusting a position of said elastic member.
 6. The oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can as claimed in claim 1, wherein said oil in said hydraulic pipe is able to be replaced with gas.
 7. The oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pedal is pivoted to said outer container with a pushing part on a bottom contacting a button of said pressure valve; said button projecting from said cylinder part of said pressure valve, and connecting said piston of said pressure valve. 